Now Reading: YouTube overhaul: Tougher rules from 2027, bigger revenue share
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YouTube overhaul: Tougher rules from 2027, bigger revenue share
YouTube is overhauling its Partner Program for the first time since 2018, with changes taking effect from February 1, 2027. The platform will raise entry requirements for new creators: they need 8,000…
The Story in Brief
YouTube is overhauling its Partner Program for the first time since 2018, with changes taking effect from February 1, 2027. The platform will raise entry requirements for new creators: they need 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days or 20 million Shorts views in the last 90 days to earn from ads and Premium revenue sharing. Existing YPP members will not lose their spot under the new thresholds. Shorts creators must get at least 10 million qualified views in 90 days to remain eligible for Shorts revenue sharing, though they can still earn from long-form videos if they fall short.
YouTube is introducing Premium Lite to all markets where Premium is available, and will put 60 per cent of net revenue from these subscribers into a creator pool, twice the rate for standard Premium. The pool will be distributed based on watch time and views. The platform says it expects to pay creators more in 2027 than in 2026. YPP currently has over 3 million creators. The company also plans new earning avenues for smaller creators, including shopping bonuses, brand deal incentives, and trend rewards.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that YouTube is simply 'rewarding active creators' misses the real effect: bigger barriers for new entrants. Raising the minimum threshold to 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views will lock out many small Indian channels. The claim that 60 per cent of Premium Lite revenue goes to creators sounds generous, but the payout relies on watch time and views, which favour established names. The real test: will the number of Indian creators in YPP grow or shrink after February 2027?
Source: timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
